Bhubaneswar: Days after a fish vendor was killed in a gruesome hit-and-run on NH‑16 near Tamando flyover in the city, police on Wednesday arrested the SUV driver, who allegedly dragged the victim nearly three kilometres before fleeing, confirming that only one vehicle was involved in the accident, and not two suspected earlier.Accused Amit Sahu (25), a vegetable wholesaler from Badabazar area in Berhampur, was taken into custody after an intensive investigation. Police sources said forensic evidence firmly established his vehicle’s involvement in the accident. Sahu was sent to Jharpada special jail here after a local court remanded him to judicial custody, rejecting his bail plea. Sahu has been booked under sections relating to rash driving, culpable homicide not amounting to murder and death by negligence.The incident had occurred around 4 am on Sunday amid heavy rain and poor visibility. Hadibandhu Mallick (45) and his cousin Kabi Mallick (44) were riding a two‑wheeler when their moped was struck from behind near Tamando flyover. Hadibandhu fell on the road and lost his senses before he was fatally dragged by the SUV until Baramunda bus stand. His cousin sustained injuries.“Initially, we suspected two vehicles were involved — one knocking the bike and another dragging the victim. But forensic and CCTV evidence confirmed that only one vehicle, driven by Sahu, caused the accident,” a senior police officer said.Investigators scanned CCTV footage across a 20‑km stretch of the highway before identifying the SUV. “The rain made visibility poor, but eventually we traced the vehicle and matched details from the Vahan database. Portions of the damaged front bumper recovered from the spot also matched Sahu’s car,” the officer said.Police said Sahu, accompanied by another youth, was travelling from Berhampur to Bhubaneswar when the accident occurred. Instead of stopping to help, he allegedly fled towards Kolkata and later returned to Berhampur on Tuesday.“After the accident, he neither shifted the injured to hospital nor informed the police. He switched his phone off and tried to evade arrest. Acting on a tip‑off, we nabbed him in Berhampur,” the officer said.
